News: Joe Manganiello, Prism, James Clementi, Lebanon

'SuperPier' slated for NYC's west side: "The $200 million project, set to break ground in October and to be completed in 2015, will also include a food bazaar akin to a Southeast Asian night market, with noodle pullers and sushi bars. There will also be 400 shipping containers housing some 200 stores and start-up companies. The developer, Youngwoo & Associates, is designing an approximately two-acre public green space for the roof."

Thanks, Japan:
"The Japanese government said Friday that it has no issue with the U.S.
military allowing same-sex spouses to accompany servicemembers or
civilian workers stationed here."

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie caucuses with House Dems on same-sex marriage: "The lawmakers were scheduled to meet Friday morning at the Hawaii Capitol as Abercrombie considers a special session for a bill to legalize gay marriage.Despite overwhelming majorities for Democrats in both legislative chambers, the issue doesn't have enough support among Senate and House lawmakers for the lawmakers to call a special session themselves."

Prop 8 mastermind Frank Schubert back for the California transgender student bill? "The religious conservative Capitol Resource Institute freaked out and has filed for a referendum (see below) under the campaign name Privacy for All Students. The Sacramento-based lobbying group used to be well-funded by right-wing conservatives in the 1990s, but as Democrats became the legislative majority in the state—and as times and attitudes changed—the CRI shrunk in size and importance."

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka buy $3.6 million Harlem townhouse: "Harris just bought a stunning $3.6 million townhouse at 2036 Fifth Ave., between West 125th and 126th streets. The five-story stunner has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and measures a sprawling 8,000 square feet. The sun-filled home includes two terraces, a backyard, chef’s kitchen and lots of space for a playroom and gym. The home is significantly bigger than the couple’s previous home, which was also in Harlem."

Lebanon's rainbow economy: "Lebanon’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has reasons to cheer and some to boo. Beirut has a reputation of being a gay friendly city in comparison to other Middle Eastern capitals such as in Saudi Arabia and Iran where execution of homosexuals is not uncommon. The capital’s tolerance toward homosexuality has allowed an increased gay presence across industries, countless gay tourists to flow into the country and has seen numerous businesses — from department stores to bars and clubs — striving to attract the burgeoning gay community. Yet all this is against a legal backdrop that presents a less than rosy human rights picture — especially among the more vulnerable socioeconomic classes. "

Comments

Is it just me or does the Super Pier drawing look like a animiation cell from the Simpson's?

Posted by: BobC562 | Sep 6, 2013 3:38:46 PM

I don't know why any actor with any self-respect would want to do 50 Shades. Ugh.

Posted by: Jack M | Sep 6, 2013 3:44:40 PM

Gay activists will be holding a vigil outside the War Memorial Opera House tonight here in SF at 7 pm, to show solidarity with LGBT Russians. We have the endorsement of diva lesbian couple Patricia Racette and Beth Clayton, and Racette is performing tonight. Please join us! More info here:
http://tinyurl.com/l45ygds

Hopefully, those Vikings will be trapped in Scotland during the summer and thus scantily clad. And maybe, just maybe, we'll get a pair of Vikings like to lock horns with each other....

Posted by: Joseph2 | Sep 6, 2013 4:45:47 PM

the piece with masha gessen should be a large article here

Posted by: gomez | Sep 6, 2013 4:48:09 PM

the piece with masha gessen should be a large article here

Posted by: gomez | Sep 6, 2013 4:48:09 PM

joe M looks boring now

he should have kept the beard, it made me him stand out

Posted by: Moz's | Sep 6, 2013 6:48:42 PM

If Pat Robertson redirected charity money to a business venture he'd be in a heap of trouble on state and federal fraud charges. However, there are a lot of loopholes in charity regulations, so it's possible he outwitted the feds.

Posted by: anon | Sep 6, 2013 7:00:54 PM

Re: James Clementi

Should be "Stand up FOR love" not "to"... it's a pretty big difference.

"a food bazaar akin to a Southeast Asian night market" - only at 20 times the prices.

Posted by: DannyEastVillage | Sep 7, 2013 7:49:32 AM

@dannyeastvillage,

+1

===============

Robertson is disgusting.

@JosephM,

Hopefully, some of those vikings would end up here on the shores of New England. They made it as far as Atlantic Canadian provinces and New England centuries ago, they can do it again.

=============

I like JoeM better with his beard.

Posted by: ratbastard | Sep 7, 2013 8:49:11 AM

@dannyeastvillage,

+1

===============

Robertson is disgusting.

@JosephM,

Hopefully, some of those vikings would end up here on the shores of New England. They made it as far as Atlantic Canadian provinces and New England centuries ago, they can do it again.

=============

I like JoeM better with his beard.

Posted by: ratbastard | Sep 7, 2013 8:49:11 AM

@dannyeastvillage,

+1

===============

Robertson is disgusting.

@JosephM,

Hopefully, some of those vikings would end up here on the shores of New England. They made it as far as Atlantic Canadian provinces and New England centuries ago, they can do it again.

=============

I like JoeM better with his beard.

Posted by: ratbastard | Sep 7, 2013 8:49:11 AM

@dannyeastvillage,

+1

===============

Robertson is disgusting.

@JosephM,

Hopefully, some of those vikings would end up here on the shores of New England. They made it as far as Atlantic Canadian provinces and New England centuries ago, they can do it again.

=============

I like JoeM better with his beard.

Posted by: ratbastard | Sep 7, 2013 8:49:12 AM

WTF?! Posted 4 times again.

Posted by: ratbastard | Sep 7, 2013 8:49:53 AM

Interesting that not so very long ago, that block where Neal Patrick Harris bought his townhouse was run down and seedy. Harlem certainly has changed the past 10-15 years!

As for the Pat Robertson story, those rumours have floated around for years and he once vehemently denied doing so on his 700 Club program. The rumours have persisted and I hope he gets nailed for its. The 700 Club and its "charitable" adjuncts have always been questionable.

Posted by: jamal49 | Sep 7, 2013 3:54:02 PM

Well, NPH's new place is very conveniently located right near an Applebee's, and a lovely old church of some sort. Would have cost a quarter of that ten years ago of course.

Personally I'd rather spend my 3.6 mil on something a bit more leafy and quiet in Brooklyn or somewhere, with a nice backyard with a bunch of trees for the swingset and sandbox and garden and all that.